Did The Gotham Awards inspire more faith in the possibly fadingg Oscar prospects of The Master? They did not. The following films competed for Best Picture in NYC's sort-of answer to The Spirit Awards:

Bernie

The Loneliest Planet

The Master

Moonrise Kingdom

Middle of Nowhere

(Yes, The Beasts of The Southern Wild was already famously snubbed here when the nominations were announced last month though it had other nominations and the team was in town for the ceremony and to beat their Oscar drum.)

THE WINNERS

Jared, Benh, and Ematatzy

Audience Award ARTIFACT. Jared Leto accepted the documentary about his band and a lawsuit.

Don't hate me because I beat that other film."

Breakthrough Director BENH ZEITLIN for Beasts of the Southern Wild

It's no time to sit around crying like a bunch of pussies. Make more movies."

Breakthrough Actor EMAYATZY CORINEALDI in Middle of Nowhere

(Beasts of the Southern Wild seemed to be having as rough a night as Gotham's Live Feed which sorely disappointed. But things turned around for it. The movie, not the live feed.)

Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You(Incidentally my favorite idea for an award category ever)AN OVERSIMPLIFICATION OF HER BEAUTY by Terence Nance

Bingham Ray PrizeBENH ZEITLIN for Beasts of the Southern Wild

Best EnsembleYOUR SISTERS SISTER

Best DocumentaryHOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE

Best FilmMOONRISE KINGDOM

Michael made a For Your Consideration plea for Moonrise Kingdom in Best Picture a short time ago right here at The Film Experience. I've not been confident on its Oscar prospects mostly because the film skews so young in its narrative (Oscar isn't that enamored of childhood tales outside of the Foreign Film category) and because excessively stylized pictures tend to be a tough sell for many voters. But the Gotham win is heartening.

If you are talking about "Middle of Nowhere" it premiered at Sundance. Ava Duvernay became the first Black Female director to win the Sundance directing prize. Ava Duvernay's first film 2011's Ï Will Follow" also received praise. You should definitely check out both films.